Patriots claim one for the ages
New Englands closing in on dynasty tag with second championship in three seasons after 32-29 nod over Carolina in Super Bowl XXXVIII; Vinatieri again boots game-winner

Published: February 1, 2004 7:00PM

HOUSTON (AP) Dull for one quarter and recording-setting the next, this Super Bowl had it all. Even a few eye-popping moments that had nothing to do with football.

The New England Patriots 32-29 victory over the Carolina Panthers was bound to end with some kind of heroics. For the second time in three years, Adam Vinatieri provided them.

Before his 41-yarder split the uprights with 4 seconds left, what started as a snoozer turned into a shootout. A defensive standoff lasted nearly 27 minutes, the slowest start in Super Bowl history.

And then: bang! New England and Carolina combined for 24 points in 3:05.

After getting back to their defensive natures in a scoreless third period, the teams provided unseen and unforeseen thrills in the final period:

A record 37 points, including an 85-yard TD pass from Jake Delhomme to Muhsin Muhammad that was the longest play in Super Bowl history.

A 33-yard TD run by DeShaun Foster that illustrated how the Patriots normally precise tackling fell apart.

A steady Tom Brady twice leading drives that put New England ahead, first 29-22 on a 1-yard pass to linebacker Mike Vrabel, then 32-29 on Vinatieris winning kick.

Not all the fireworks came on plays.

During the closing moments of the halftime show, singer Justin Timberlake tore off part of Janet Jacksons top, exposing her breast, and New England linebacker Matt Chatham tackled a streaker on the field.

As for Vinatieri, he said making those decisive field goals, they never get old. Never ever.

Most people never get an opportunity to play in this game, let alone to ... put the last points on the board, said the kicker who won the 2002 Super Bowl with a 48-yarder as time expired against St. Louis. Maybe it was deja vu with knowing Tom and the fellows are going to march down the field and give us an opportunity.

Brady never, ever loses in the postseason hardly any other time, too. Hes 6-0 in the playoffs, and has two Super Bowl MVP trophies in as many tries. This was New Englands 15th straight victory, second only to Miamis 17 in a row in the 1972 season.

Overall, Bradys record is 40-12. Hes 26-4 in games played after Nov. 1.

Tom is certainly moving himself up the ladder in terms of a productive quarterback in the NFL, coach Bill Belichick said. Tom is a winner. Thats what a quarterbacks job is ... and Tom, he does that as well as anybody.

In this game of ebbs and flows, however, not even Brady could be totally steady. He threw an interception to Reggie Howard in the Carolina end zone with 7:38 remaining and the Patriots ahead 21-16.

Three plays later, Muhammad beat Eugene Wilson down the left sideline for the 85-yarder and a 22-21 lead. For the second time in the period, Carolina missed the 2-point conversion with 6:53 to go. So Brady atoned for his error by guiding a 68-yard drive, hitting 6-of-8 passes. Vrabel, who already had two sacks, came in as a tight end and caught a pass in the front of the end zone. Kevin Faulk ran in New Englands first 2-point conversion all season with 2:51 left.

Enough? Perhaps for the usually stingy Pats, but the scrappy Panthers wouldnt go away. Delhomme needed seven plays to take them 80 yards, finding veteran Ricky Proehl, in his third Super Bowl, for a 12-yard score.

John Kasays extra point tied it, then Kasay goofed. His kickoff went out of bounds, giving New England the ball at its 40.

That never really entered my mind, said Kasay, who nailed a 50-yard field goal as time expired in the first half. We needed a really good kick and I didnt get it done.

Brady and Vinatieri did, of course, and were helped greatly when Carolina went to a soft defense on third down from the Panthers 40. Brady hit Deion Branch for 17 yards, and Vinatieri trotted out to win it for the second time in three years.

How ironic to come back and kick that field goal just like it happened a couple years back, said Brady, who had a Super Bowl-record 32 completions in 48 attempts for 354 yards and three touchdowns. I think we figured it would come right down to the end and Adam drilled that sucker right down the middle to win it.

Brady also threw 5-yard touchdown passes to Branch, who had 10 receptions for 143 yards, and David Givens. Antowain Smith had a 2-yard TD run to set off the offensive explosion in the final 15 minutes.

Vinatieri also missed a 31-yard field goal wide right and had a 36-yarder blocked.

Nobody makes all of them. But if youve got to have one kick with everything on the line, hes the one you want kicking it, Belichick said.

The Panthers, whose other touchdown was on a 39-yard pass to Steve Smith, might kick themselves over those late mistakes. But they shouldnt.

After going 1-15 two seasons ago, they brought in coach John Fox, and he turned around the franchise. They dont have a Super Bowl championship, but they earned plenty of respect.

I thought that both teams played their hearts out, and it took the last play to win it, Muhammad said. Im proud of my guys. We fought hard. I dont think many people gave us a chance to play this team as well as we did.